Her Graceful War Song

Carissa had indeed extended an invitation to the Farrell family. They were a distinguished family of military tradition, and Timothy was still serving in the Hell Monarch Army.

Due to an old illness, the family's elder general had been bedridden for the past two or three years. Currently, the matriarch of the Farrell family was Timothy's wife, Opal. The other branches of the family, having lost the people of the younger generations, tended to keep a low profile and rarely made public appearances.

A family of military officers bore a unique pain that others might not understand.

With her husband still serving in the military and her children unmarried, Opal had to make public appearances to plan for the marriages and futures of her children.

Her eldest son was also a soldier but had been injured in battle, which prevented him from settling down. Meanwhile, having passed the national examination, her second son was pursuing a scholarly career and needed to continue his studies.

There was also a daughter, Nina Farrell, who was thirteen this year. Though there was no immediate rush, some families made marriage arrangements for girls as young as twelve or thirteen, and she had yet to find a suitor.

This time, when the Farrell family received the invitation to Helen's birthday banquet, Opal decided to take her aunt-in-law, Alice, out for a change of scenery. She had heard that no one from the Warren family had been invited, so she felt it was safe to bring Alice, who was the mother of Thomas Farrell, along.

Alice had been melancholic for years, grieving over the loss of Thomas. However, she needed to think about her other children and could not remain in her sorrow forever. After some persuasion, she agreed to attend the banquet.

Opal prepared a gift for her aunt-in-law. When the time came, they would set off together for Hell Monarch Estate to celebrate Helen's birthday. She would also bring her siblings to broaden their horizons. March passed quickly, with the verdant growth of spring giving way to the blossoming April.

Soon, Helen's birthday arrived. In the lead-up to the event, the people of Hell Monarch Estate had been busy for half a month.

The garden was adorned with flowers. In addition to those Helen had chosen, Carissa had added many more. The bougainvillea on the walls had also bloomed, resembling clusters of purple-red clouds, creating a beautiful scene.

Three theater troupes had been hired well in advance, and they would take turns to perform from morning until night.

The pastries that would be served to the guests were made by the household's dedicated pastry chefs, and they were not at all inferior to those from the famous bakery, Fortune Bakehouse.

The banquet featured a total of eighteen dishes, including a variety of mountain delicacies and seafood, but also some unique homemade favorites. There were even vegetarian options prepared for guests who didn't eat meat.

For example, the matriarch of the Marquis of Jadehill's family and some members of the Farrell family all preferred to avoid meat. Several of the older Sinclair family members also followed a vegetarian diet, hoping that their prayers for their family's men would ensure their invincibility on the battlefield.

In reality, the hope was more about wishing for their safe return from battle. Unfortunately, the Sinclair family's pillar, the Duke of Northwatch's family, now consisted only of Carissa and Ryan. Despite this, the Sinclair family members continued to eat vegetarian food. One reason was out of habit, as they could no longer tolerate even the slightest bit of meat. The other reason was a hope for the souls of the departed to attain rebirth more quickly.

Carissa was dressed in a soft pink-colored dress with a peach-colored outer cloak. The cloak was made from cloud satin and was light and airy, giving her an ethereal, almost celestial appearance.

Her makeup was subtle, and her hair was styled in a sophisticated bun. A Mystic Pearl headpiece sat on her head, which added a touch of elegance and grace without overshadowing her natural beauty. Rafael, on the other hand, wore a dark brocade robe cinched with a leather belt, from which hung an emerald pendant on his left side. His attire was both striking and dignified, blending handsomeness with a sense of authority.

Helen had dressed elaborately for

the occasion. Her hair was adorned with a lavish array of jewels and pearls, and her luxurious brocade outfit was embroidered with large peonies in gold and silver thread. Over her attire, she wore a silk shawl, which was made of a lighter and more refined material than cloud satin, offering a subtle but undeniable air of luxury and refinement.

Helen had entered the palace at the age of sixteen, gave birth to Rafael at seventeen, and this year, turned forty-two. She always insisted she still looked young, and dressed like this, she really did. Her complexion was fair and smooth, with only faint lines at the corners of her eyes and a few white hairs, which had been removed. This is from NôvelDrama.Org.

Around her neck, she wore a

dazzling and eye-catching red coral necklace, of which each bead was

round and fiery red. Her hair was

adorned with rubies, as were heret

earrings, and she wore two haikins that dangled with jeweled tassels. The pin on the left had a large Mystic Pearl that looked just like the ones from Carissa's dowry set in it.

It wasn't just a coincidence-every piece of jewelry Helen wore today had been custom-made by Carissa, gifted to her as a birthday present.

Soon, the guests began to arrive one after another.